- Date
- March 19, 1994, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Currie, NV
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6727ECessna 175
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940319006169A
- Case key
- 28701
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's poor weather evaluation and continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions. The snow, mountain obscuration, and icing conditions were factors in this accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot continued flight from visual meteorological conditions to instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot encountered the adverse weather conditions after receiving terminal weather reports from a UNICOM station located at an airport along the planned flight route. Icing conditions, 1/4 mile visibility in snow showers, and mountain obscuration prevented the pilot from continuing flight to an airport. The pilot selected a road as a landing area, but landed short due to ice build up on the airframe.
Factual narrative
On March 19, 1994, at 1300 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 175, N6727E, nosed over in an open field 17 miles southwest of Currie, Nevada, during a precautionary landing. The pilot/owner was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Elko, Nevada. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Page, Arizona, at 1000 hours.
The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing at Page, Arizona. The pilot updated his weather briefing in flight by contacting the Ely Airport unicom, Ely, Nevada. The update briefing consisted of the terminal weather at the Ely Airport. The pilot's in-flight observations and destination terminal forecast were for visual meteorological conditions.
The pilot encountered adverse weather conditions over mountainous terrain between Ely and Elko, Nevada. The pilot reported 1/4 mile visibility, freezing temperatures, snow showers, and low ceilings obscured the mountain tops.
The pilot reversed course to return to Ely. The weather had deteriorated along the route to Ely. The adverse weather had closed in behind the pilot and the airplane's wings were starting to ice.
The pilot decided not to attempt flight through mountainous terrain during snow showers and reduced visibility and elected to land. The pilot selected a road as a landing strip.
Ice building up on the airframe forced the pilot to land in an open field short of the road. During the landing roll the airplane's nose gear collided with sage brush and collapsed. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6727E
- Reported as
- Cessna 175
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 56227
- Engine
- Continental GO-300-C, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robillard, James G.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PGA · Page, AZ
- Destination
- EKO · Elko, NV
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,400 total · 150 in this make and model · 6,000 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EKO, 60 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.